Goreville advances to Illinois Class 1A championship

Goreville advanced to the Class 1A state final with a 55-47 win over Lawrenceville on Thursday in Champaign.

Nick King led the Blackcats with 20 points. 

The Blackcats (34-4) got to the final four with a blowout win over Routt at the Jacksonville Super Sectional 60-43. They had already defeated Lawrenceville earlier this year 50-45.  

Goreville finished 4th in 2018 and qualified for the state tournament in 2019 but it was canceled by Covid.

Lawrenceville (34-3) came in ranked in the top 3 most of the year. This was the Indians' 18th trip to state, but first since 1996. They were looking for the school’s 6th state title.

In the second semifinal, Chicago Marshall (22-9) defeated Lanark Eastland (32-6) by a score of 66-38.

Saturday’s Goreville-Marshall final tips off at 10 am.